[Note: to read the full text of the report on this small “proof of concept” trial free, click HERE. “Anecdotally, two subjects were able to return to work after having had their symptoms for a 2-year period and chose to continue on a high cocoa solid chocolate diet.”]

Background: Chocolate is rich in flavonoids that have been shown to be of benefit in disparate conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer. The effect of polyphenol rich chocolate in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has not been studied previously.

Methods: We conducted a double blinded, randomised, clinical pilot crossover study comparing high cocoa liquor / polyphenol rich chocolate (HCL/PR) in comparison to simulated iso-calorific chocolate (cocoa liquor free/ low polyphenols(CLF/LP)) on fatigue and residual function in subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome. Subjects with CFS having severe fatigue of at least 10 out of 11 on the Chalder Fatigue Scale were enrolled. Subjects had either 8 weeks of intervention in the form of HCL/PR or CLF/LP, with a 2 week wash out period followed by 8 weeks of intervention with the other chocolate.